It may not be a swing state, but New York will host both President Bush and Sen. John Kerry today – and the two Big Apple-bound candidates may end up closer to one another than at nearly any other point in the campaign.

While Bush’s primary reason for the trip is to attend a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, Kerry is here for a number of events spanning two days.

Both will appear at evening fund-raisers mere blocks from one another.

Tonight at the Sheraton New York at 53rd Street and Seventh Avenue, Bush will attend a $2,000-a-head fund-raiser – co-sponsored by Mayor Bloomberg, Gov. Pataki and Rudy Giuliani – benefiting the Republican National Committee’s Presidential Trust.

Kerry will head over to the Hilton New York on 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue for a 200-person fund-raiser after taping “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

With both events to begin at about 7 p.m., the two candidates – both of whom have done their fair share of mudslinging – will be separated by only one square block.

New York political junkies will probably be pleased by the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the men vying for the White House without having to hustle between boroughs.

But Manhattan motorists will likely not be as ecstatic.

With the General Assembly in session, areas close to the United Nations will already experience street closures and tightened traffic conditions for security purposes.

Add two presidential nominees, their expansive motorcades and yet more security precautions, Midtown will likely turn into gridlock central.

Though their campaigns have often narrowly missed bumping into one another as they crisscross America in search of swing voters, the last time the candidates were in such close quarters came early last month during dual rallies in Davenport, Iowa.

While past polls have shown Kerry easily winning the Empire State, Bush has significantly closed the gap, climbing to within 6 points of the Massachusetts senator, according to a survey conducted last week.

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Tale of the tape

GOP

Where the fund-raiser is: Sheraton New York (53rd and Seventh, co-sponsored by Rudy Giuliani)